The UAE is preparing for a wet and windy few days, with rain, dusty winds and choppy seas expected until November 12. Temperatures will also slip by up to 6°C.
Skies over the UAE are about to turn unsettled. Showers could range from light drizzle to heavy downpours, with winds gusting up to 45 km/h, dust and sand in the air, and rough conditions at sea. Temperatures are set to drop by as much as 6°C, and the weather is forecast to stay changeable until November 12.
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Moist winds from the Arabian Sea and an approaching low pressure system are expected to bring thunderstorms and heavy rain to parts of the country from Wednesday. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates are among the areas likely to be affected.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) expects unsettled conditions from Monday to Thursday, with cloud cover building, rainfall spreading and temperatures easing down. The system is linked to a weak surface low pressure system extending from the west, along with an upper air low pressure system.
NCM meteorologist Dr Ahmed Habib explained the setup:
“We are under the influence of a surface low-pressure system extending from the Red Sea trough, accompanied by south-westerly winds bringing moisture from the Arabian Sea towards the UAE.
An upper-air low-pressure system is also extending from the north-west towards our region, bringing additional moisture.
“We are also seeing significant cloud cover over Saudi Arabia, which is gradually moving towards the UAE.”
On Tuesday, November 10, light rain is possible over islands and some coastal and northern areas, with winds of up to 40 km/h and the Arabian Gulf rough at times offshore. The first significant cloud formations are expected to develop from Tuesday over western areas, islands, coastal areas and the north.
Wednesday afternoon could bring the most intense weather, as the deepening low pressure system triggers convective clouds capable of heavy showers and thunderstorms. Dr Habib said the rain will first affect the west before moving to the coast, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and the main cities are likely to be affected too.
“The low-pressure system is expected to deepen further from Wednesday, particularly in the afternoon, triggering convective cloud formation. This could bring rain and thunderstorm activity, initially over the western parts of the UAE before moving towards coastal areas, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The main cities are also likely to be affected.
“Rainfall intensity will vary, ranging from light to moderate and, at times, heavy showers associated with convective clouds. This weather situation is expected to continue until the afternoon of November 12.”
Thursday, November 12, will stay partly cloudy to cloudy with a further chance of rain, and winds of up to 50 km/h are forecast, particularly offshore.
The heaviest rainfall is forecast over mountainous areas and the northern parts of the country, especially Ras Al Khaimah. Some northern coastal areas and Al Dhafra may also see showers.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah can expect rain too, though intensity in these cities is generally forecast to be light to moderate. The meteorologist warned that thunderstorms could also develop between Dubai and Al Ain, extending towards the northeast of Al Ain.
This is not the first wet spell of the month. Rain was reported in Souq Al Juma and Murbad in Fujairah on Friday, November 6, as unsettled weather affected parts of the east.
Winds will strengthen, especially over the sea. The Arabian Gulf is expected to be rough to very rough at times on Wednesday, while the Oman Sea will be moderate to rough. Northwesterly winds are expected to become active and reach moderate to strong speeds, and blowing dust and sand could reduce visibility in some areas.
Temperatures are forecast to fall by around 4°C to 6°C over the next three days. Dr Habib said the cooling will be gradual:
“A drop is expected on Tuesday, followed by another decrease on Friday. However, this will be a gradual cooling rather than a sharp fall.”
The Ministry of Interior has earlier cautioned that heavy rain can cause wadis to overflow, trigger flash floods and lead to water build up in low lying locations. Motorists should take extra care during dusty spells and downpours and follow official updates.
The main unsettled spell is expected to ease after the afternoon of November 12, although some cloud activity may linger over the northern and eastern parts of the country on Friday.
Dr Habib added that such weather is nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year:
“This type of rainfall is fairly common. We are currently in the autumn season, and it is normal for the UAE to be affected by such weather systems during this time of the year.”
Source: Khaleej Times
